Comb attachment for carpet sweepers



May 2l, 1935. E. R. SMITH 60MB ATTACHMENT FOR CARPET SWEEPERS Filed May 24, 1955 INVENTOR. EARLE K. SP1/TH ATTORNEY Patented May 21', 1.935

UNITED f sTATE's PATENT OFFICE com; ATTACHMENT Fon CARPET swEEPERs l Earle Smith, Alhambra, Calif., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Earl F. Callan A Application May 24, 1933, serial No. 672,666

` 7 claims. (o1. v15 46) My invention relates to comb attachments for Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing an- .carpet sweepers, and it has particular reference other form of comb attachment embodying my to comb attachments of the type embodied in invention.

l my Patent No. 1,898,3l8`vissued February 21,` 1933. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on As disclosed in my patent, two combs are disthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direc- 5 posed at opposite sides of the sweeper brush, tion of the arrows. and they are so mounted in the sweeper box that In both embodiments of my invention they they tendto gravitate to stripping positions with are Vshown applied to a conventional form of relation to the brush, but are movable to` noncarpet sweeper shown as including a box B 10 stripping positions alternately, by `and accordmounted for rolling movement on wheels W. 10

ing as the brush rotates in one direction or the A brush D is rotatable in journals J, and by other. i means of the `Wheels W, the brush can bero- In order that the combs vmay properly gravitated in either direction according as the sweeper .tate to stripping positions extreme precision is ismoved forwardly or rearwardly over the surnecessary both in constructing and mounting the face being swept. Dust pans P are secured in 15 combs. Further, prolonged use ofthe sweeper the sweeper Abox at opposite sides of the brush "causes such wear of the brush journals `that latto collect dust and other matter removed from eral `play of `the brushdevelops. This results the yfloor by the brush.

infailure of the proper operation of, the` combs The comb attachment shown in Figs. l and 2,

byzthe brush so that the combs are no `longer comprises a pair of combs Cand C' situated at 20 fully effective to remove accumulations from the opposite sides of the brush D, and although they brush. l A are reversely arranged, their specific `construc-` It lis a purposeof my invention to provide a tion and manner of `mounting is` identical, so

comb attachment for carpet sweepers in which that 4a description of one will suice for both.

2,5 'two combs are operatively connected one to the Each comb C or C comprises an elongated `25 `other vto occupy stripping and non-,stripping` po- ,body I5 approximately corresponding in length sitions, respectively, `and to 'be reversedyposi- `to the distance between the confronting faces of tively in their respective positions according as the end Walls of the box B. so as to be coexten- -the sweeper brush is reversed in its direction of sive in length with the brush D. Teeth I6 are ,E39 rotation. By my `mechanism is eliminatedneed formed integral with the body I5 and so as to 30 Cof extreme precision in mounting the combs, and extend upwardly therefrom. The opposite ends `the dependence upon gravity to move the combs .of `the body are bent at right angles to form "is completelyavoided. i ears I7 pvotally mounted on the end walls of It is also a purpose of-my invention toprovide vthe bOX by DnS 18, and in thl'S marmer the Comb a comb attachment a part of which has physical as a Whole is mounted for piVOtal IIlOVemeIlt in 35 V"contact withy the surface being swept to posithe box. tively move one or two combs from stripping to yAS beStShOWll in Fg- 2, the tWO Combs C and 'non-stripping position or vice versa according as Cf are Operatively Connected 011B t0 the other the sweeper box is moved in one direction or the A.by means of a connector |9- This connector'is ,140 other, and in the twoV comb arrangement to provided for the purpose of transmitting the mo- 40 effect reversal in the relative positions of the two tion 0f 011e Comb t0 that 0f the other in order `combs `concurrently with reversal in directional that When either Comb iS .mOVed from 011e DOS- movement of the sweeper. Y tion by the brush, the other comb as a result, is

I will describe only'twoforms of comb attachl moved likewise, .but to -OCCHDY a different POS- A4.5 `ments for carpet sweepers embodying myinvention with relation to the brush. 45

r5.5 the arrows. U

\ tion and will then point `out the lnovel features I-n the present instance this connector is in the thereof in claims. i 1 form ofan arched rod with its ends bent to form In the accompanyingpdrawing; v U pintlesZ which extend into the ears Il at points Fig. l is a fragmentarytop plan View of -a vabove the pivot pins I8. The usual stop pins 450 `carpet sweeper `with the top thereof removed, such as disclosed in my patent hereinbefore rei and having incorporated therein one form of ferredto, may be employed to limit inward `comb, attachment embodying my invention. swinging movement of the combs to define their Fig. ,2 is a transverse sectional viewytaken on .stripping positions in relation to the brush. `.theI line 2 2y and looking vin the direction of .f During the reciprocating movements of the l sweeper over a surfacebeing swept thereby, the

operation of the comb attachment just described, is as follows:

With the brush rotating in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, the comb C occupies the inner extreme position shown. I term this position a stripping position for the reason that the teeth of the comb project into the brush to strip or remove from the brush dust, lint and other matter accumulated on the brush, and to cause such matter to be deposited into the adjacent pan. The other comb C', meanwhile, occupies an outer extreme position which I term a non-stripping position because, its teeth are removed from between the brush bristles so that they have no stripping action relative to the brush. A

The comb C" is initially moved to non-stripping position by the brush itself forA itwill be clear that with the brush bristles moving upward at this side of the brush and the comb in stripping position, such bristle movement will swing the comb upward to the l non-stripping position shown. concurrently with elevation of the comb C' to non-stripping position the connector i9 moves to the left to lower the comb C to the stripping position shown.

As long as the brush rotates in this counterclockwise direction the two combs occupy the positions illustrated so that the comb continues to remove accumulations from the brush and cause them to be deposited into the respective pan.

However, when rotation of the brush is reversed by reversing movement of the sweeper,

the comb C is moved by the brush into stripping position, while the comb C is simultaneously elevated'to non-stripping position under movement of the connector in the opposite direction. Thus the comb C now functions to strip the brush of accumulations for subsequent deposit into the respective pan.

From the preceding operation, it will be manifest that the mounting of and the connection between the two combs does, under rotative movement of the brush, effect positive movement of one comb or the other to non-stripping position according as the brush isl rotated in one direction or the other, and with such movement the other comb is simultaneously moved to stripping position.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, I have here shown another form of comb attachment which embodies the same two combs C andC in the same relation to the brush D, and mounted in the same manner to occupy stripping and non-stripping position, However, in this embodiment, the brush is not relied upon necessarily to move the combs to non-stripping position as in the first `form of my invention for I provide a means wholly independent of the brush for actuating the combs. 4

This means comprises an arm 2i and a brush 22 on the lower end of the arm, the two constituting an actuator for a rod 23 which operatively connects one comb to the other in the same manner as the rod i9. The arm 2i is pivoted by a y pin 24 on the inner side of one end wall of the box B for rocking movement, and it is operatively connected to the rod 23 by a lug 25 which works in an upwardly bent part 2S of the rod. Thus as the arm is rocked in one direction or the other, the rod is moved lengthwise in one direction or the other to cause the combs to occupy stripping and Ynon-stripping positions alternately. As in the first 'form of my' invention,

conventional stop pins such as disclosed in my patent hereinbefore referred to, may be employed to dene the stripping positions of the two combs.

Rocking of arm 2l to either extreme position is effected through the medium of the brush 22. The bristles of this brush are of such length as to not only have contact with the rug or other surface being swept but to be flexed when in engagement therewith and thus sufficient traction or friction is set up between the bristles and the rug to eect movement of the arm 2| with each change in direction of movement of the brush 22.

The operation of my comb attachment, under thenormal reciprocating movements of the sweeper box, is as follows:

y With movement of the sweeper box to the right (Fig. 4), the arm 2| occupies the position shown in Fig. 4 and in this position the comb C' is in non-stripping position while the comb C' is in stripping position to remove accumulations from the brush D as the latter is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. During this movement of the sweeper box the brush 22 being dragged along the floor remains iiexed and suiciently rigid to maintain the arm in the extreme position shown.

When the sweeper box is moved to the left, the brush 22 is immediately flexed in the opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 4, and under continued movement of the box the arm 2| is rocked to a reverse position thereby actuating the rod to reverse the position of the combs. Thus the comb C now occupies non-stripping position and the comb C stripping position to remove accumulations from the brush D as it rotates in a clockwise direction.

From this mode of operation, it will be seen that the brush 22 in its dragging contact with the surface being swept, is operable automatically to positively actuate and reverse the positions of the two combs with each reversal in direction of movement of the sweeper box, so that the combs at all times operate in the intended manner to remove accumulations from the brush and guide them into the pans.

Should it be desired to employ my attachment where only asingle comb is used, that portion of the rod extending to either side of the bent part 26 depending upon which comb is eliminated, is dispensed with. As will be understood the remainder of the rod will continue to provide an operative connection between the remaining comb and the arm so thatV under rocking movement of the latter engendered by the flexing movements of the brush, the comb is positively moved to stripping or non-stripping position as determined by the directionof movement of the sweeper box.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of comb attachments for carpet sweepers, each embodyingv my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carpet sweeper having a brush rotatable in either direction; a pair of combs; means for mounting said combs at opposite sides of said brush so that each comb is movable to occupy either a stripping or a non-stripping position with relation to the brush, and when in stripping position to be moved to non-stripping position by the bristles of said brush when the latter is rotated in one'of its two directions; and a connec- I tion between the combs for transmitting the motion of that comb being moved to non-stripping position by the brush, to the other comb so as to simultaneously movethe latter to stripping position. l

2. In a carpet sweeper; a box; a rotary brush in the box; a comb at one side of the brush and pivoted inV the box to occupy either a stripping or a non-stripping position with relation to the brush; and an actuator connected to the comb and positioned to have contact with the surface being swept so as to move the comb from one of said positions to the other according as the box is 'moved in one direction or the other, said actuator comprising an arm connected to the comb and having a resilient terminal portion adapted for wiping engagement with said surface.

3. In a carpet sweeper; a box; a rotary brush in the` box; a comb at one side of the brush and pivoted in the box to occupy either a stripping or a non-stripping position with relation to the brush; and an actuator connected to the comb and positioned to have contact with the surface being swept' so-as to move the comb from one of said positions to the other according as the box is moved in one direction or the other, said actuator comprising an arm connected to the comb and having a brush at its lower end.

4. A carpet sweeper having a brush rotatable in either direction; a pair of combs; means for mounting said combs at opposite sides of said `brush so that'each comb is vmovable to occupy either a stripping or a non-stripping position with relation to the brush, and when in stripping position to be moved to non-stripping position by the bristles of said brush when the latter is rotated in one of its two directions; and a rod so con'- necting the combs that according as one comb is moved to non-stripping position by the brush the other comb will be moved by the rod to stripping position.

5. A-carpet sweeper having a rotary brush; a

comb mounted parallel and adjacent to the brush and movable to either stripping or non-stripping position; a movable member positioned to drag on the surface being swept by the brush; and a connection between said member and said comb arranged to move the comb into one or the other of said positions as the member is dragged in one direction or the other by the movement of said surface with respect to the sweeper.

6. A carpet sweeper having a rotary brush; a pair of combs mounted parallel and adjacent to the brush at opposite sides thereof and each movable to either a stripping position or a nonstripping position; a movable member positioned to drag on the surface being swept by the brush; and a connection between said member and said combs arranged to move one comb into `one or the other of said positions and the other comb into a position opposite to the position of the rst comb according as the member is dragged in one direction or the other by movement of the sweeper over said surface.

-7. A carpet sweeper having a box; a pair of combs; means for mounting the combs in the box to occupy either a stripping position or a i non-stripping position; a connection between said combs for causing one of said combs to be moved `to a stripping position concurrently with movement of the other of said combs to a non-stripping position; and a brush so rotatable between said combs that according as the brush is rotated in one direction or the other it will move one comb or the other to non-stripping position.

EARLE R. SMITH. 

